Trooper dies from fall at Letchworth

CASTILE — A state trooper died Wednesday after falling during a training exercise at Letchworth State Park, New York State Police said.

Trooper Ross M. Riley was participating in high angle rescue training with the Special Operations Rescue Team when he fell approximately 30 feet from a ledge into Wolf Creek at the north end of Letchworth State Park. He was taken to Wyoming County Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

New York State Police superintendent Joseph D’Amico said Riley was performing a mock rescue mission when he fell backwards. It is unclear what caused the fall or why Riley was not attached to a harness.

“We’re going to look at everything and try to determine what happened,” D’Amico said. “Obviously, the safety of our troopers is our main priority.”

D’Amico said the Special Operations Rescue Team routinely does training drills at Letchworth State Park and believes this is the first time a tragedy like this has occurred.

Riley was assigned to Field Command, Emergency Management in Albany, and was a member of the Special Operations Response Team — West, based in Collins Center.

Riley was a 17-year veteran of the New York State Police department and 13-year veteran of the Special Operations Rescue Team. He served in the Marines during the Persian Gulf Conflict from 1987 until 1992 when he was honorably discharged. Riley received commendations for his work with the Mobile Response Team at Ground Zero after 9/11. Riley worked for Troops A, E and F before joining the Special Operations Rescue Team.

Riley’s commanding officer Major Christopher Fiore described him as the “go to guy” when anyone needed something.

“He was very talented and very detail oriented,” Fiore said. “He was an outstanding trooper and an outstanding guy.”

Fiore said the entire New York State Police department would feel the loss of Riley, especially the Special Operations Rescue Team, who consider each other family.

Riley is survived by his wife, Heidi Riley, a New York State Police Station Commander and three daughters, Abaigeal, 10, Katherine, 8, and Jillian, 3. He was 44 years old.